photo: William Gunn (Creative Commons)

by Emma Boyce

With Halloween just around the corner it’s almost time to run into that phone booth and throw on your super suit.  Ha!  If only it were that simple. For days, perhaps even weeks Halloween enthusiasts have agonized over costume ideas. Turning to friends for help they wonder: How am I going to make this work, has this been done before? Will people get it?  

Friends can be somewhat helpful, but sometimes, when the Halloween countdown begins and you’ve got nothing but last year’s wig and a bucket full of sequins, it’s time to ask the pros. NoDef caught up with the experts at Funky Monkey, American Apparel and Uptown Costume & Dancewear to get some of their Halloween secrets and costume ideas.  

READ: Halloween Costuming with Miss Claudia

Funky Monkey is all about vintage and sparkles with some playful tee shirts thrown in.  If you’re looking for the perfect tutu or Indian headdress you might have some luck finding it here. 

Jennifer Mayfield and Leah LeBlanc have watched customers come in and out of the store for the weeks leading up to Halloween.  Rarely do they see people leaving empty handed.

“Start with one great piece and work around it,” says LeBlanc. 

According to both Mayfield and LeBlanc the big costume this year is, not surprisingly, TLC’s lovable Georgia pageant princess Honey Boo Boo Child.  Honey Boo Boo requires lots of blonde hair, sequin leotards, crowns and maybe some of that “go go juice” if you can find it.   

“Art Deco costumes like gypsies, Boardwalk Empire and Great Gatsby are also really popular,” says Mayfield.

Funky Monkey is stocked with headpieces, slick suits and hats for any decade. 

“If you buy a package costume, add a twist to it.  If you’re Karl Lagerfeld, make it Karl Lagerfang,” says Mayfield.  

American Apparel, a clothing store that for many people doubles as a costume shop, agrees that originality is key.  Foregoing the premade costume, many American Apparel shoppers are looking to create their own costumes from scratch. 

“Most people come in with an idea and try on a lot different things,” says Dwi’shana S., who clears out tons of potential custom items from a single dressing room daily. 

“A lot of people come in with an older costume idea and modernize it,” says Dwi’shana’s coworker from behind a stack of clothes.  One man wanted to be Shaggy from Scooby Doo, but instead of bell-bottoms he bought skinny pants, he says. 

Dwi’shana has also been surprised at how much people have spent on their costumes this year. 

“We’ve seen a lot of big transactions, but it depends on the type of the type of party people are going to,” says Dwi’shana. 

While some people go all out for Halloween, it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money for a great costume. Some of the best costumes cost very little.  

Finding costumes are one thing, but applying the makeup that goes along with costumes is an entirely different adventure. 

Uptown Costume & Dancewear encourages customers to put the research in before covering themselves in a product that could potentially make them break out or give them hives.   

“Use barrier spray before applying the makeup,” says Stephanie.  “A lot of people have sensitive skin.” 

Barrier spray, only five dollars at the costume shop, gives your skin a base coat that prevents face paint or makeup from going into pores.  Not only does it prevent breakouts, but it also secures water-based makeup, likely to sweat off after a long night out on the town. 

Although some customers don’t listen, Stephanie warns against using liquid latex since it also rips off hair, a rude awakening the morning after.   

“Use Mehron 3D Gel instead,” says Stephanie.  “It comes in blood and flesh color and it’s better for making wounds.”   

The most important thing to remember during a long night of partying is comfort.  You don’t need to stand up all night in Lady Gaga heels. 

When in doubt go back to the basics: pirates, zombies, vampires, decades. Everyone also loves Elvis and Prince. And if all else fails there’s no reason you can’t recycle last year’s idea.